Background: Few follow-up studies of depression have evaluated depressive symptomatology over time at both threshold and sub-threshold levels.
Aims: To evaluate long-term longitudinal symptomatic course after an episode of severe depression.
Method: A total of 61 participants from a previous study cohort underwent a detailed interview covering the longitudinal course of depression and pharmacological treatment over 8-11 years of follow-up.
Results: Of the follow-up months, 52% were spent at an asymptomatic level, 15% at minor symptom level, 20% at residual symptom level and 13% at full depression level. Also, 30% of follow-up months were spent in an episode of depression, and 18% of patients never achieved asymptomatic status during follow-up. The percentage of patients at each symptom level remained relatively stable after the first 2 years, but levels in individuals fluctuated, with a mean of two changes in symptom levels per follow-up year.
Conclusions: After severe episodes, sub-syndromal levels of depression are common and persistent, with considerable fluctuation suggesting a continuum between sub-syndromal subtypes and full depression.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://dx.doi.org/10.1192/bjp.184.4.330 | DOI Listing |
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!
© LitMetric 2025. All rights reserved.